Attendance Information

Regular attendance is one of the most important factors in determining a child’s success in school. Parents have the responsibility to ensure that their children attend school on all days that classes are in session. School attendance is compulsory under state law, and regular attendance is essential to a child’s learning and academic progress. Students should not attend school when they are ill. 

EVERY day a child is absent from school a parent/guardian must verify the absence within 48 hours by calling the Attendance office voicemail at (510) 537-2342 extension 1. A written verification signed by a parent/guardian may also be used to report absences to the attendance office. If a student is absent from school and/or tardy for more than 30 minutes without a valid excuse 3 times during the school year, the student is truant and will be reported to proper school authority. (Ref. Education Code Section 48260)

Truancy Consequences (unexcused absences)

• 3 absences — 1^st Truancy Letter – serves as a reminder to the parent/guardian to address the student’s attendance issues and to avoid possible future truancy. 
• 6 absences — 2^nd Truancy Letter – Student Attendance Review Team (SART) Meeting with the Principal, Parent, and Student. (Attendance Contract) 
• 9 absences — 3^rd Truancy Letter – Student Attendance Review Board (SARB) Meeting at the District Office. This is a truancy mediation program operated by the county’s district attorney or probation office, and/or a juvenile court. Also in attendance are the District Personnel, School Administrator, Parent, and Student.

Excused Absence

1. Illness/medical verified within 48 hours by parent or guardian (e.g., personal illness - including an absence for the benefit of the student’s mental or behavioral health, injury, medical, dental, optometrical, or chiropractic  appointment) Absences due to illness that are more than 3 days should be verified by a doctor note.
2. Bereavement verified within 48 hours by parent/guardian (e.g., funeral service – immediate family member per EC48205(4), EC45194)
3. Personal Absences – a written request and prior approval from principal/designee are required in order to excuse absences for personal reason such as religious holidays, family emergency, extended bereavement, attendance at funeral services (for other than immediate family member) and appearance in court. If you call in the personal absence on the day of without prior approval then student will be marked unexcused.

Unexcused Absence

1. Parent/guardian notifies school of absence not allowable by law (e.g., vacation, work, oversleeping, visiting relatives, traffic/car problems, take your child to work day, failure to leave reason for absence)
2. School directed exclusion (e.g., suspension, lack of immunization)
3. Absence verified by parent/guardian after the 48-hour time limit.

Extra Curricular Activities
At Chabot, all students must be in school for a minimum of four (4) hours to be able to participate in extracurricular activities. Students who leave school because of illness may not return after school to participate in an activity.

Students are expected to be in their seats by the second bell.

• AM Transitional Kindergarten – 8:10 AM
• PM Transitional Kindergarten – 11:55 AM
• Kindergarten – 8:10 AM
• Grades 1-5 – 8:10 AM

You will be notified if your child accumulates unexcused absences and/or tardies. Should your child accumulate unexcused absences and/or tardies in excess of the state guidelines, you will receive a letter identifying your child as truant. A copy of this letter will go into your child’s school records and a copy will be sent to Pupil Services at the District Office.

If you have any questions regarding this policy, please call the attendance office.

If arriving after school has started, students are to go to the Attendance office with a note from the Doctor/Dentist to excuse the tardy.

Please keep your child home if he/she has any of the following:

1. A bacterial infection. Please ask your physician for an “ok” to return to school slip. Please notify the attendance office of the illness as soon as the doctor confirms the diagnosis.
2. A rash of unknown origin or a contagious rash. This also requires an ok to return to school slip from the physician.
3. Any open wound or boil. The student will be excluded until the wound is dry and/or covered with a dressing and/or has physician’s clearance.
4. A fever of 100 or greater. The student will be sent home and should not return until he/she has been fever free for at least 24 hours without fever reducing medication. If your child has a fever for 3 days, call your healthcare provider.
5. A runny nose when mucus is thick green/yellow.
6. Congestion/cough that interferes with breathing and causes wheezing.
7. Diarrhea
8. Vomiting
9. Severe headache

If a student has more than 10 absences for illness in the school year as reported by a parent any further absences for illness must be verified by physician. When there is no doctor's note, the absence becomes unexcused and truancy letters will be generated.

Link to Program Overview and Form: Independent Study Form

In order to maximize student achievement and social/emotional growth, and in accordance with California Education Code, it is expected that students will attend school every day. However, family situations do arise which necessitate emergency travel. When these rare situations arise, families may arrange a Short Term Independent Study Contract with the school. These contracts are appropriate for  unavoidable emergency absences of no fewer than 3 consecutive school days up to 10 days. Independent study for family vacations or leisure travel that can occur during school breaks is strongly discouraged, since Independent Study cannot replicate the classroom instructional experience. Approval of an Independent Study is at the discretion of the principal.

Parents/Guardians may obtain an Independent Study contract from the Attendance Office. Contracts must include the dates of absences, return to school date, and reason for the request.  The absence duration should be as brief as possible, as absences of more than a few days will negatively impact student learning. All requests must be approved by the administration, signed by a parent or guardian, and be submitted a minimum of 10 school days in advance. Parents should pick up all assigned work on the last day of attendance prior to the trip. Once the student returns to school, the packet must be turned in to the attendance clerk the morning they return. Even if the student is sick, the work must be turned in. If the work is not turned in on time and/or the student does not complete all the assigned work they will not receive credit and any future requests may be denied. 

Independent Study contracts at the end of the school year must be completed no later than 15 days prior to the last day of school.  Independent Study contracts cannot be established during the first 10 days of school.  Note: If a student on an IEP is requesting a Short Term Independent Study contract, the Program Specialist must be notified immediately so that appropriate IEP documentation can be determined.

For any attendance related questions, including Independent Study, please contact the office 510-537-2342 x4254